Farmers can have their say

Farmers will have a chance to have their say on Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) priorities in Scotland at a review meeting at Carfraemill, Lauder on December 1.

The meeting will highlight the work delivered by AHDB on behalf of levy payers and will encourage debate on future activity.

George Lyon, AHDB’s Independent Board Member, said: “We would strongly encourage farmers and growers to take the opportunity to attend our review meetings. This is your opportunity to tell us what you want to see from AHDB moving forward – and for us to hear your views on what would best benefit your farming or horticultural business.

“Our team in Edinburgh actively engage with levy payers on a daily basis. For example, we have staff helping to promote exports of Scottish seed tatties; we work across the dairy sector and jointly fund the Scottish Dairy Hub - alongside the Scottish Government - and we have invested significant money in research work at Scottish institutions such as SRUC and The James Hutton Institute.

“Across the field vegetable and horticulture sectors our work in recent times has helped to extend minor use for crop protection products in Scotland and throughout the UK.

“Our Monitor Farm work which is co-funded with the Scottish Government benefits our dairy, potatoes and cereals producers and Scottish growers also benefit from the work we put in each year to producing the Recommended Lists.”

Jane King, AHDB Chief Executive, said: “Our aim is to provide levy payers with the tools and information to build businesses which are competitive and sustainable.”

“We want to listen to what farmers, growers and our supply chain believe will help their businesses to make the most of future opportunities and meet the longer term challenges.

“Whether this is extending our monitor farm work, funding applied research, looking at increased market development, or pooling resources to attract additional funding from external sources, we need the input from our levy payers to support our sector boards in their strategy decisions.”

“We want to listen to views on what AHDB should be doing to help levy payers build a better business.”

The Lauder meeting will take place at Carfraemill Hotel at 19:00 on Tuesday 1st December.

Presentations will be given by AHDB Lead Analyst Jack Watts from AHDB Market Intelligence team and George Lawrie, farmer and Chairman of the UK Partnership for Crop Nutrient Management.

Full details of all the open meetings and a levy payer questionnaire are available on the AHDB website at www.ahdb.org.uk/activityreview2015.aspx with times, venues and how to register to attend.

Feedback from the meetings will be collated and shared with AHDB’s sector boards to help inform their discussions, as part of the business planning process, on where resource should be focused and what will deliver most impact for levy payers.